Most importantly to the Mets, the right-hander was efficient, needing only 83 pitches over 6 ²/₃ innings in which he allowed two runs against the Marlins. But then there was his hitting.

The portly Colon, who received mock cheers each time he came to the plate at Roger Dean Stadium, delivered an RBI single in the sixth inning. In his previous at-bat, Colon hit a squib toward third base that would have been a single had he run from the batter’s box instead of jogged. He was thrown out easily.

But the Mets also don’t need Colon testing his legs too much on the base paths.

Colon is expected to make a final start in the Grapefruit League on Thursday, putting him on course for the second game of the season on April 2 against the Nationals at Citi Field.

“He was real effective today,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “One inning he just wanted to work on his change up and moved it to both sides of the plate, so he was impressive to watch.”

Collins joked Colon may hit fifth in the lineup if he continues to take good swings.

Ike Davis hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, a day after getting three hits against the Twins. Davis is 5-for-15 (.333) with two homers this spring. His competition for the first-base job, Lucas Duda, did not play.

Davis and Duda are expected to play first base in separate Grapefruit League games on Sunday. For the spring, Duda is 3-for-10 (.300) with two homers.

Daniel Murphy (right calf) remained absent from the lineup, with Eric Young Jr. at second base.

“I wanted to get a workout in today,” Murphy said.

Murphy, who went 0-for-4 in a minor-league exhibition game — he only ran bases prior to the game — said it’s too early to say if he will return to the lineup this week. But Collins indicated he’s hoping to have Murphy for a

Grapefruit League game on Sunday.

Wilmer Flores hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and was solid as the starter at shortstop. The rookie Flores could become an alternative at shortstop to Ruben Tejada as the year progresses, but is unlikely to begin the season with the Mets.

“We know [Flores] can hit,” Collins said. “It’s whether or not we think he’s ready to play shortstop every day.”

Mets training day

Only the young

Chris Young went 3-for-3 against the Marlins and is hitting .349 for the spring. Young started in center field on Saturday.

Slipping away

Seton Hall product Anthony Seratelli committed his fourth error and went 0-for-5 at the plate, dropping his Grapefruit League average to .200. Seratelli is a long shot to make the club in a utility role.

Sunday’s schedule

Jenrry Mejia will face the Nationals in Port St. Lucie. The other half of the Mets squad will play the Braves in Lake Buena Vista, with John Lannan on the mound.

Caught my eye

Eric Young Jr. stole second and third base after drawing a walk to begin the third inning for the Mets.